Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of operating a server device that provides data to a computer device, the data used on the computer device to display map data, wherein the map data includes map feature data used to draw map features and label data used for displaying text labels and symbols that identify map features, the method comprising: receiving, at the server device, label data associated with a map feature, each map feature having a feature type; receiving, at the server device, a type table that specifies style information by feature type for label data at one or more zoom levels including, for a particular feature type corresponding to a set of labels, first label style information for a first range of zoom levels and second label style information for a second range of zoom levels, wherein style information includes at least one of: a font type, a font size, or a font color, and wherein the first label style information is different from the second label style information; receiving, at the server device via a network, a request from the computer device for map data; creating label data responsive to the request, the label data including label text, the first label style information, and the first range of zoom levels for which the label data is valid according to the particular feature type in the type table; and sending map feature data and the label data responsive to the request to the computer device for use by the computer device in displaying the map feature data and the label data, wherein when the computer device receives a new request to display the map data at a new zoom level that is outside the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid, the label data causes the computer device to: receive, from the server device, new label data having a valid range that covers the new zoom level, display the map data at the new zoom level, determine that the difference between the new label data and the currently displayed label data is below a predetermined threshold difference, and retain the currently displayed label data at the new zoom level.
A server provides map data to a client device for displaying maps with labeled features. The server stores a type table that defines label styles (font, size, color) based on feature type (park, street, city) and zoom level. For each feature type, different style information is stored for different zoom level ranges. When a client requests map data, the server creates label data, including label text, appropriate styles from the type table, and the zoom level range for which the label is valid. The client displays the map and labels. If the client zooms to a new level outside the current label's range, it requests new label data. If the difference between the old and new label data is small enough, the client keeps displaying the old label even at the new zoom level.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising grouping one or more label data by feature type, wherein the feature type identifies related text labels.
The method described in the previous map label management description is further enhanced by grouping label data by feature type, allowing the server to efficiently manage and deliver related labels together. The feature type acts as an identifier for a set of related text labels, simplifying the process of retrieving and updating labels for a specific category of map features.
3. The method of claim 1 , each map feature includes a rank, the rank specifying a relative order in which to add text labels until a threshold of labels is displayed.
In the method described previously, each map feature includes a rank. This rank specifies the relative order in which text labels should be added to the map display. The client uses the rank to prioritize which labels to display first, ensuring that the most important labels are always visible, especially when the map is crowded and only a limited number of labels can be displayed before reaching a threshold.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type table includes a minimum zoom level and a maximum zoom level for an individual feature type that respectively specify i) at which zoom level label data for that feature type is available for display and ii) a zoom level above which label data for that feature type must be refreshed.
In the method described previously, the type table includes a minimum and maximum zoom level for each feature type. The minimum zoom level determines when the label data for that feature type first becomes available for display on the client device. The maximum zoom level specifies a zoom level above which the label data for that feature type must be refreshed with new label data from the server, ensuring the labels remain relevant as the user zooms in.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feature type is a park feature type, a street feature type, a city feature type, or a country feature type.
In the method described previously, the feature type can be a park feature type, a street feature type, a city feature type, or a country feature type. This allows the server to apply different label styles and zoom level ranges to different types of map features, customizing the label display to suit the specific characteristics of each feature type.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the map feature data and the label data further comprises sending separate label data specified for individual zoom levels within the first range of zoom levels when the map feature data is usable over the first range of zoom levels.
In the method described previously, when sending the map feature data and label data, the server sends separate label data specifically designed for individual zoom levels within the allowed zoom range, provided the map feature data itself is valid over that entire range. This allows for finer-grained control over label styles and ensures that the labels are always optimized for the current zoom level.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request identifies a specific zoom level.
In the method described previously, the client's request for map data includes an identification of the specific zoom level the client is currently displaying. This allows the server to tailor the map data and label data it sends to the client, ensuring that only the data relevant to the current zoom level is transmitted, thereby reducing bandwidth usage and improving performance.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the type table covers the range of zoom levels corresponding to a range of zoom levels supported by the map data.
In the method described previously, the type table covers the entire range of zoom levels supported by the map data. This ensures that the server can provide appropriate label styles and zoom level ranges for all possible zoom levels, guaranteeing consistent label display across the entire range of the map.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the request for map data includes receiving an identification of a map application and wherein the type table is application specific and covers a range of zoom levels supported by the map application.
In the method described previously, the client's request for map data includes an identification of the map application being used. The type table is specific to that application and covers the application's supported zoom levels. This allows different map applications to have their own distinct label styles and behaviors, even when displaying the same underlying map data.
10. A method of operating a client device, the method comprising: receiving, via a user interface, an instruction to display map data; sending a message requesting map data from the client device to a server via a network; receiving, from the server via the network, map data including map vector data for map features, label data including label text and first label style information, and a first range of zoom levels for which the label data is valid according to a particular feature type in a type table, wherein the type table specifies style information by feature type for label data at one or more zoom levels including, for the particular feature type corresponding to a set of labels, the first label style information for the first range of zoom levels and second style information for a second range of zoom levels, wherein style information includes at least one of: a font type, a font size or a font color, and wherein the first label style information is different from the second label style information; displaying the map vector data at a given zoom level; selecting, for the given zoom level, label data with a range of zoom levels for which the label data is valid that encompasses the given zoom level; and displaying, from the selected label data, the label text corresponding to displayed map features using the label style information for the given zoom level; receiving a request to display the map vector data at a new zoom level; determining that the new zoom level is outside the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid; receiving, from the server via the network, new label data having a valid range that covers the new zoom level; displaying the map vector data at the new zoom level; determining that the difference between the new label data and the currently displayed label data is below a predetermined threshold difference; and retaining the currently displayed label data at the new zoom level.
A client device displays map data received from a server. The server provides map vector data, label data (text and style), and valid zoom level ranges for the label data. The type table on the server defines label styles (font, size, color) based on feature type and zoom level, storing different styles for different zoom ranges. The client displays the map and selects labels valid for the current zoom level. If the client zooms to a new level outside the current label's range, it requests new label data. If the new label data is similar enough, the client keeps displaying the old label, otherwise the client displays the new label.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein receiving the label data comprises receiving a plurality of label data, each of the plurality of label data covering a separate range of zoom levels.
In the client-side map display method described previously, receiving the label data includes receiving multiple sets of label data, where each set of label data covers a distinct, non-overlapping range of zoom levels. This allows the client to seamlessly switch between different label styles as the user zooms in and out, ensuring that the labels are always optimized for the current zoom level.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: receiving a request to display the map vector data at a new zoom level; determining that the new zoom level is within the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid; displaying the map vector data at the new zoom level; and retaining the currently displayed label data at the new zoom level.
The method described previously for displaying map data on a client device is enhanced by determining that the new zoom level falls within the valid zoom range of the currently displayed label data. If the new zoom level is within the range, the client displays the map vector data at the new zoom level and continues to use the same label data without requesting a refresh from the server.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising: receiving a request to display the map vector data at a new zoom level; determining that the new zoom level is outside the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid; displaying the map vector data at the new zoom level; and replacing the currently displayed label data with new label data having a valid range that covers the new zoom level.
The method described previously for displaying map data on a client device is extended. If a zoom level change causes the current zoom level to be outside the valid range for currently displayed labels, the client replaces those labels with new label data that has a valid zoom range covering the new level, to ensure labels are always appropriate.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining that the new zoom level is outside the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid comprises evaluating whether the new zoom level is between a minimum zoom level and a maximum zoom level specified in the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid.
In the client-side label update mechanism described previously, determining if a zoom level is outside of the valid range is done by evaluating if the new zoom level falls between a minimum and maximum zoom level specified as part of the valid range of the currently displayed label data.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising requesting the new label data from the server when the new zoom level is outside the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid and new label data having a valid range that covers the new zoom level is not available at the client device.
In the client-side method for map display, if a new zoom level is outside the range of currently displayed label data, the client requests new label data from the server only if this new label data isn't already locally available.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein each map feature comprises a rank specifying a relative order in which to add label text until a threshold of label text is displayed.
In the method described previously for client-side map display, each map feature has an associated rank, defining a relative display priority for labels. This enables the client to decide the order in which labels are displayed when the density of features makes it impossible to display all associated labels.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein sending the message requesting map data includes an identifier for a mapping application associated with the message; and wherein receiving the label data includes receiving label data applicable only to features supported by the mapping application.
In the client-side map display method, the request for map data includes an identifier for a mapping application. The client only receives label data applicable to features supported by this application, ensuring consistency and preventing incorrect labeling.
18. A method of operating a server computer to generate data used by a client device to display a map, the method comprising: receiving, at the server computer, a request for map data from the client device; parsing, at the server computer, the request for map data into a geographic area and an application type; responsive to the request for map data, preparing, at the server computer, application-specific map data including map feature data and label data for a first range of zoom levels using a type table, the type table specifying one or more zoom levels at which to display label data corresponding to a feature type including, for a particular feature type corresponding to a set of labels, first label style information for the first range of zoom levels and second label style information for a second range of zoom levels, wherein style information includes at least one of: a font type, a font size, or a font color, and wherein the first label style information is different from the second label style information; and sending the map data including the map feature data and the label data to the client device wherein when the client device receives a new request to display the map data at a new zoom level that is outside the first range of zoom levels for which the currently displayed label data is valid, the label data causes the client device to: receive, from the server computer, new label data having a valid range that covers the new zoom level, display the map data at the new zoom level, determine that the difference between the new label data and the currently displayed label data is below a predetermined threshold difference, and retain the currently displayed label data at the new zoom level.
A server generates map data for a client, adapting label display across zoom levels. It receives a request from the client containing geographic area and application type. The server prepares application-specific map data, which includes feature and label data for an initial range of zoom levels, using a type table that defines label styles (font, size, color) based on feature type and zoom level ranges. The server sends map data to the client. If the client zooms to a level outside the initial range, the server sends new label data, and the client determines whether to retain old labels or use the new ones based on similarity.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein preparing the map data includes adding a display rank for each feature for use by the client device in prioritizing display of label data.
In the map data generation method previously described, preparing the map data includes adding a display rank for each feature. The client uses this rank to prioritize the display of label data, ensuring that important labels are visible even when many features are in view.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein preparing the type table includes a minimum zoom level and a maximum zoom level for a feature type that respectively specify i) at which zoom level label data for that feature type is available for display and ii) a zoom level above which label data for that feature type must be refreshed.
In the map data generation method previously described, the type table includes a minimum and maximum zoom level for each feature type. The minimum specifies the zoom level at which label data for that type becomes available, and the maximum specifies the zoom level above which the label data should be refreshed, ensuring labels are appropriate for the current zoom.
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November 25, 2014
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